To Your Health and Welcome Women of Wine — Dave’s Diary

Spring Barrel tasting is underway in the Yakima Valley. I went downtown for lunch and ran into a small group of wine tasters who said they were here from Puyallup and were having a blast and enjoying our sunshine. Little did they know they were extending their life expectancies!Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health say women who drink alcohol in their 50s live longer and healthier lives than their teetotaler friends. Middle-aged women who drink alcohol in moderation have a better chance than nondrinkers of staying healthy as they age, reports Health.com.

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The study analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study, a long-running survey of 14,000 mostly white, registered nurses that began in 1976. They compared the women's self-reported drinking at age 58 with their health status at age 70. Previous research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption can reduce inflammation, promote healthy cholesterol levels, improve insulin resistance and help blood vessels function properly.

Let’s welcome them in their quest for health and longevity this weekend. Let us be gracious hosts and good neighbors and be sure to say thanks for those tourism dollars!